Usman: I’m bringing the ‘wrath of every immigrant in this country’ against Covington

If there is one thing that Tyron Woodley and Kamaru Usman have in common, it is their personal issues with Colby Covington. But for “The Nigerian Nightmare”, it is all connected to race and him being an immigrant in the United States.

Usman says he is no stranger to being treated as a second-class citizen in America, which he is actually dumbfounded about.

“Part of what this next fight symbolizes to me, is the attitude that a lot of people have towards immigrants,” Usman said on a recent episode of the JRE MMA Show (transcript via BJPenn.com). “A lot of people forget that Americans are immigrants. People are forgetting that, to where people have this attitude, ‘We’re Americans, go back to your country. Go back. This is a free country.’ I always heard that growing up. I always heard that. The more I research it’s like, ‘What? What are you talking about’ This whole attitude.”

“When you go to hotels, who are the maids who work at most of those hotels? A lot of them are immigrants,” he continued. “We take pride in that because we’re in a better place and want to provide for our families. Those are jobs a lot of people, the so-called ‘Americans,’ the whole Colby Covington persona are like, ‘I’m above that.’”

Usman particularly has an issue with Covington’s self-entitled attitude and demands for a title shot.

“He’s entitled to this: ‘I should be the champion, I’m American.’ Bro, we’re all American here. This fight is greater than just a guy who is talking sh-t. This fight means a lot to me.

“So when I get the chance to put my hands on this guy, just know that it’s the wrath of every immigrant in this country that I’m going to put on him.”

No date has been determined for Usman and Covington’s fight, but as early as now, the newly-minted champion is already relishing the thought of laying a beating on the smack-talking welterweight contender.

“I haven’t been in a fight yet where it was malicious, where I was maliciously trying to hurt someone,” Usman said. “I haven’t been in that fight. My mind is strong. I don’t compete, ‘Oh, I want to kill this guy.’ Then you swing five punches and miss and you’re dead tired. I don’t compete like that.

“This one, I’m still going to compete like myself, but there’s a little extra, ‘Oomph’ behind those elbows now. I’m going to filet your face. This win is going to be one I really enjoy.”